CritterGarden Review
CritterGarden is a cozy gem that charms and then surprises you with its gameplay. Developed by Minjonia Studios, led by a biology teacher who translated their passion for science into game development, the game drops you on a lifeless planet after a space crash. Playing as an astrobiologist, your mission is to bring this barren world back to life by evolving and caring for over 90 unique critters, each with their own diets and evolutionary quirks, all while hunting down your missing ship parts to find a way home.
At first glance, it feels like a gentle farm sim... You know, breeding cute creatures and planting crops. But don't be fooled. Each critter you find has specific needs and diets. You can't just throw food at them and expect everything to go well... You need to balance your ecosystem. Ensure there's sufficient food, water, and fertilizer. And yes... Poop is a VERY valuable resource here. I became much more involved in managing these details than I had anticipated... Sometimes to the point where it got a little stressful trying to keep everything balanced.
One of the true delights of CritterGarden is the scientific aspect of discovering new critters through evolution. You start with slimes and, from there, unlock a variety of animals, each with different colors and mutation paths. It was satisfying to watch my garden grow and change as I unlocked new species. One cool feature is how the game tracks all your critters' on a large tree of life (aka a phylogeny). This adds a scientific flair and also provides a reference point if you need to revisit and recreate critter species, which makes every evolution feel meaningful.
The vibe is cozy and inviting, with colorful, whimsical art and cute animations that bring the garden to life. The music fits the mood nicely, though I wish there were more options to keep things fresh during longer sessions. The UI is mostly clean and easy to navigate, though sometimes it can feel a bit clunky. It's simple to keep track of your critters, resources, and game progress. The progression also feels pretty smooth and rewarding. As you care for your critters and land, you level up. This unlocks better tools and eventually leads to new parts of the map.
Each biome introduces a bunch of new opportunities, so you're constantly adapting your strategies to balance your run. The quests, which are usually along the lines of finding ship parts or learning about the planet's past, provide a nice structure without feeling like chores. Moderanto, our helpful robot friend, is also available to give tips if you're stuck, but for the most part, the game is happy to let you try things and work it out for yourself.
This game requires a lot of time if you want to unlock every critter and fill out your phylogeny. I had one funny experience when my dragonflies were eating all of my ladybugs and I learned that population control is essential in the game! The game does not help you out, so you have to learn these balances on your own, and this is rewarding as well as sometimes too much to do.
In summary, CritterGarden is a pleasant and fun game that combines farming, science, and resource management to create a fun and engaging experience. It's easy to pick up but has enough complexity to keep you engaged for many hours. I'd rate it a 7.5 out of 10 and suggest it to anyone who enjoys relaxing games with some challenge and likes creature collecting. When knowing this game is the result of the passion of a solo developer, you appreciate the the game even more. Be warned, though, that you'll be doing a lot of small tasks and could find yourself losing hours playing as you work in your alien garden.
